Lobster tail cutting device

ABSTRACT

For cutting frozen or fresh lobster tails, a time and labor saving tail-holding and cutting device for safe use by restaurant cooks when preparing lobster tails. A non-corrodible plate provides a foundation for the ready-to-sever lobster tail. This plate is provided at the site of operation with positioning and guide means for temporarily stabilizing and maintaining the tail in a localized captive state. A manually actuatable blade is operatively cooperable with the surface and has a cutting edge movable toward and from the plate surface in a manner to longitudinally cleave the tail. An adjustable adapter bracket is provided for pivotally anchoring the forward or distal end of the cutting blade. The proximal end is provided with an appropriate handgrip and limit stop which prevents the cutting edge from coming into direct contact with the surface of the foundation plate. An upstanding portion of the bracket and coordinating guide means facilitates maintaining the lobster tail in a given position for safe and reliable cutting needs.

United States Patent [191 .1 urcalr LOBSTER TAIL CUTTING DEVICE [76]Inventor: Frank C. Jurcak, c/o Sirloin House,

Route 18 & 51, Lostart, 111. 61334 [22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 165,119

[52] US. Cl ..17/71, 83/607 [51] Int. Cl. ..A22c 29/00, B26d 04/34 [58]Field of Search ..l7/71, 52, 53;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Robert W.Michell Assistant Examiner-John F. Pitrelli Attorney-Clarence A. O Brienand Harvey B. Jacobson May 29, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT For cutting frozen orfresh lobster tails, a time and labor saving tail-holding and cuttingdevice for safe use by restaurant cooks when preparing lobster tails. Anon-corrodible plate provides a foundation for the ready-to-severlobster tail. This plate is provided at the site of operation withpositioning and guide means for temporarily stabilizing and maintainingthe tail in a localized captive state. A manually actuatable blade isoperatively cooperable with the surface and has a cutting edge movabletoward and from the plate surface in a manner to longitudinally cleavethe tail. An adjustable adapter bracket is provided for pivotallyanchoring the forward or distal end of the cutting blade. The proximalend is provided with an appropriate handgrip and limit stop whichprevents the cutting edge from coming into direct contact with thesurface of the foundation plate. An upstanding portion of the bracketand, coordinating guide means facilitates maintaining the lobster tailin a given position for safe and reliable cutting needs.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PMENI MQ um Fig.4

LOBSTER TA/L .8

m w J C k M r F M M w l I I J 1 LOBSTER TAIL CUTTING DEVICE The presentinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a lobstertail holding and supporting device, that is, an adaptation wherein theplacement and support surface for the severable lobster tail is equippedwith simple but practical facilities which promote safe and expedientuse of an easy-to-operate blade.

There has long existed a need for a simple, practical and reliablelobster tail cutting device for use by chefs or anyone involved in thecommercial preparation of lobster tails. It is an object of the presentinvention to dispense with the drudgery of preparing a lobster andprovide an expeditiously usable but safe holder and cutter which can beapproved by manufacturers and retailers and which can be unqualifiedlyendorsed for safe use in seafood restaurants specializing in the sale,for example, of lobster tails.

More specifically the herein disclosed concept has to do with a holderand cutter which lends itself to satisfactory and effectual use when oneis called upon to cut lobster tails and in order that they may beprepared out of the shell. For the most part and at the present time itis common practice to prepare a lobster in one of two ways. As a generalrule lobsters are delivered for use in a frozen state. It follows thatcooks must either attempt to cut the frozen lobster by hand or,alternatively, to prepare it inside the shell. Cutting a frozen lobsteris and can be quite dangerous because the cook must rest one hand on thefrozen lobster tail as he attempts to properly cut through the frozenlobster. However, and it often happens that the lobster slips from sideto side and an even or uniform cut is rarely obtainable. An alternativeprocedure is to prepare the lobster in the shell. Not only does thiscause the lobster to lose some of its flavor, it is also very difficultto extract from the shell after it is prepared. The device disclosedherein is such in construction and capability that it will lend itselfto acceptable use by the entire restaurant industry.

Admittedly, it is old in the art to provide a device which lends itselfto cutting of a shell fish and which is characterized by a base platehaving a knife pivotally mounted centrally thereon and for completelycutting through the shell or body of the shell fish. Other patents haveto do with cutters employing pivotally mounted blade members usable inone manner or other with a base plate.

Briefly the holder and cutter herein disclosed pertains to a stand heldin place by suction cups or the like and embodying a rigidnon-corrodible base plate whose working surface is planar and is of anarea to facilitate placing and cleaving lobster tails of differentsizes. An adapter bracket is adjustably and detachably mounted on amarginal edge portion of the base plate. Limit stop means is alsomounted on the base plate and is located for cooperation with and isproperly lined up with the bracket. A manually actuated and controllableblade has a forward or distal end which is pivotally mounted on theadapter bracket. The proximal or inward end of the blade projects beyondthe inward marginal edge of the plate and is equipped with anoverhanging rubber or equivalent conveniently grippable handgrip. Moreparticularly the handgrip overlies and is adapted to engage anunderlying resilient limit stop bumper. The blade has a cutting edgewhich is prevented by the bumper and the coacting pivot point fromcoming into destructive contact with the support surface or undesirablycutting through the ventral side shell of the lobster tail.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on an adapter bracket which hasa ribbed portion cooperating with stationary ribs on a marginal edge ofthe base plate and which is adjustably bolted in place. An upstandingportion of the bracket provides an abutment surface which assists inlocating and maintaining the coacting end of the lobster tail within theconfines of the cutting site. Guide means is mounted atop the surfaceand is located for coaction with the bracket and limit stop means.

It will be noted in connection with the disclosed adaptation that thecutting edge on the cutter blade does not come into colliding contactwith the surface of the base plate and accordingly does not cut throughthe shall of the lobster. In addition the adapter bracket ishorizontally elongated and vertically adjustable to regulate the heightof the pivot point, and the forward end of the blade is pivotally anddetachably mounted on the bracket. The limit stop bumper can bevertically adjustable. In addition the guide atop the plate between thebracket and the bumper and to one side thereof provides the desiredbuttressing facility and expedites placement and holding of the lobstertail in an advantageous position and manner for safe cleaving.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a lobster tail cutting deviceconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention andshowing the stand-type base, the adapter bracket, cutting blade, limitstop and guide means all'in ready-to-use association.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged central view taken through the structure depictedin FIG. 1 and which shows the lowermost position of the cutting edge,the down position of the blade and the functioning of the bumper andadapter bracket.

FIG. 3 is a view on a smaller scale observing the structure of FIG. l ina direction from right to left.

And FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the lobster tail inphantom lines and showing the general relationship of the componentparts.

With reference first to FIG. 1 wherein the coacting component parts ofthe overall device are shown, it will be observed that theaforementioned stand is denoted by the numeral 6. This stand,alternatively, is referred to as a base plate, that is a plate which hasa flat or planar top support surface 8 and which is preferably but notnecessarily rectangular in plan. The forward or distal marginal edge isdenoted at 10, the rearward or proximal marginal edge at 12 and thejoining side left and right edges are denoted at 14. The respectivecorner portions 16 are supported by feet, preferably rubber suction cups18.

The aforementioned cutting blade is denoted by the numeral 20 and has arelatively wide distal or forward end portion 22, a median body portion24 and a narrowing proximal end portion 26 terminating in a shank 28provided on opposite sides with rubber or equivalent compressiblyresilient members 30. These members are riveted or otherwise secured tothe shank and conjointly provide an appropriate handgrip which projectsbeyond and overhangs the inward or proximal marginal edge 12. This bladeis sturdy and the lower edge portion is provided with a longitudinalappropriately ground cutting edge 32.

The forward or distal end portion of the blade is pivotally anddetachably mounted. This result is preferably achieved through the useof a mounting which is here referred to as an adapter bracket 34. Thisbracket is angular in cross section and embodies a depending verticalflange 36 and a horizontal top flange 38. The end portions of theseflanges are joined by substantially triangulate webs 40 which areprovided with bolt holes for an insertable and removable bolt 42. Theheaded end portion 44 (FIG. 3) of this bolt is provided with a washerand serves to anchor and pivotally support the coacting end portion 22of the blade. The upstanding portion of the vertical flange 36 providesan abutment. The lower portion of the flange is provided with slots 46which serve to accommodate headed connecting and adjusting bolts 48.Thus the overall bracket 34 is capable of being vertically adjusted toraise and lower the pivot point in a manner to elevate the cutting edge32 of the blade. For best results an edge portion of the marginal edge10 is provided with anti-slipping teeth or ribs 50 which coact withsimilar ribs 52 whereby to securely maintain the adapter bracket in thatposition to which it is adjusted for best use. The bolts and slotsprovide for raising and lowering of the cleaving or cutting blade tofacilitate cutting lobster tails of different sizes. In practice theblade 20 is usually 14 inches long with a inch handle. The height of theblade is between 2% inch and 3% inch. The stainless steel or equivalentbase plate is usually 12 X 12 inches. That surface of the flange 36which is shown above the level of the support surface of the plateprovides an abutment which facilitates locating the lobster tail in thedesired site of operation. This abutment surface coacts with acomplemental lobster tail positioning and stabilizing guide which couldalso be referred to as a bracket or fixture but which is referred tospecifically as an angle iron 54. The horizontal flange 56 is seatedflatwise but adjustably and detachably atop the plate. It is providedwith slots 58 to accommodate screw-threaded headed fasteners 60 thuspermitting the vertical flange 62 to be adjusted toward and from thelocale of the cleaving or cutting blade 20. This angle iron is ofrequisite length and extends across the top surface of the plate and isslightly spaced from and is at right angles to the abutment 36. Thusthis abutment 36 plus the function of the guide and buttressing flange62 facilitates positioning and maintaining the lobster in the cuttingposition suggested in phantom lines in FIG. 4, in which position it iscentralized with respect to the liftable and lowerable cutting blade.

The numeral 63 designates limit stop means, more specifically a rubberor an equivalent bumper 64 which is screwed or otherwise adjustablysecured in place (not detailed). This bumper is located beneath thehandle portion of the knife and interposed between the handle and thesurface 8 and prevents the cutting edge from being lowered into damagingor colliding contact with the non-yielding surface 8. That portion ofthe blade adjacent to the bumper 64 is cut at an oblique angle as shownat 66. It will also be noted that at least one adjusting washer 68 isshown but in practice a number of washers which function somewhat asshims can be employed to raise and lower the bumper so that it will beat a proper level relative to the height of the pivot point of thecutting blade 20. In other words, when the adapter bracket is adjustedup or down the bumper means can also be adjusted to achieve the desiredand coordinating result. Then too the fact that the angle iron 54 isadjustable and also removable adds to the overall advantages of thedevice. It will be noted in this connection that the cutting edge doesnot cut into the shell of the lobster and at no time does it reach thesupport surface of the base plate. Then too it is to be noted that thethree adjustable features, the adjustable adapter bracket 34, theadjustable guide 54 and the adjustable limit stop 64 provide significantand important features of the tail cutting device. In fact, experiencehas shown that this device can be used safely and more quickly thanordinary hand cutting adaptation. Then, too, frozen lobster tails can bespotted and cut and split in a matter of minutes. Ordinarily and underprevailing procedures the cook would have to wait many hours until thefrozen lobsters are thawed. Then considerable time would be required tocut the thawed lobsters. Experience has shown that the herein discloseddevice is virtually effortless to operate. But little downward pressureis needed to cut through the frozen lobsters. Further, knife injuriesare reduced to a minimum because the fingers are not placed anywherenear the cutting blade. It follows that a device constructed as hereinshown and described well serves the purposes for which it has beendevised and successfully used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lobster tail holder and cutter comprising a rigid base plate havinga support surface, an adapter bracket mounted on said base plate, limitstop means also mounted on said base plate and located for alignedcooperation with said bracket, a manually actuated and controllablecleaving blade having a distal end pivotally mounted on said adapterbracket and a proximal end provided with a handgrip, said handgripoverlying, extending beyond and being adapted to engage said limit stopmeans, said blade having a cutting edge which is prevented by the pivotpoint and limit stop means from coming into destructive contact withsaid support surface, said adapter bracket being adjustably mounted on aforward distal marginal edge of said base plate and having an upstandingabutment surface which assists in locating and maintaining a coactingend of the lobster tail within the confines of the cutting site, and, incombination, lobster tail positioning and guide means located betweensaid adapter bracket and limit stop means and having one end terminatingadjacent to said bracket.

2. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in and according to claim1, and wherein said bracket is angular in cross-section, is provided atits respective ends with webs, said webs having a bolt passing throughbolt holes provided therefor in said webs and one end of said boltserving to support and pivotally mount the adjacent distal end of saidblade.

3. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in and according to claim2, and wherein said positioning and guide means is characterized by anelongated angle iron having a horizontal flange adjustably mounted onsaid surface and an upstanding vertical flange, said latter flangeproviding a buttressing and stabilizing guide.

4. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in and according to claim1, and wherein said limit stop means comprises an upstandingcompressibly resilient bumper adjustably and replaceably mounted atopsaid base plate, said bumper constituting a lobster tail locatingabutment and assisting in positioning and retaining a coacting end ofthe lobster tail in a ready-to-cleave position.

5. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in claim 1, and whereinthe distal pivoted end of said blade is accessibly and detachablymounted on one end of said adapter bracket and is adjustably raisableand lowerable relative to said support surface in conjunction with saidbracket.

6. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in and according to claim1, and wherein said forward distal marginal edge. is provided withlongitudinal antislipping ribs, and wherein a coacting surface of saidadapter bracket is also provided with longitudinal anti slipping ribsoriented and clampingly engaging said first named anti-slipping ribs.

7. A portable lobster tail holder and cutter comprising a rigidnon-corrodible base plate having a horizontal planar lobster tailsupporting surface, a forward distal marginal edge and a rearwardproximal marginal edge, a horizontally elongated adapter bracketadjustably and removably mounted on a predetermined portion of saiddistal marginal edge, said bracket having an upstanding vertical surfacedisposed at right angles to and rising above the plane of saidsupporting surface, a vertically adjustable compressibly resilientbumper mounted atop said support surface, said bumper constituting ayieldable limit stop, being spaced from but aligned with one end of saidadapter bracket and being located adjacent a predetermined portion ofsaid proximal marginal edge, a single elongated upstanding rigid guidespanning the space between said adapter bracket and limit stop, saidguide being detachably and adjustably mounted atop said support surfaceand having a forward distal end terminating adjacent a median portion ofsaid vertical surface and a proximal end terminating short of andlaterally spaced and offset from the locale of said limit stop, and amanually actuatable and controllable cutting blade having a forwarddistal end detachably and pivotally mounted on said one end of saidbracket and a rearward proximal end provided with a handgrip overlyingand extending beyond and cooperatively adapted to engage said limitstop, said blade having a cutting edge which is prevented by theconjoint action of the pivotal point and limit stop from being forcedinto destructive contact with said supporting surface.

1. A lobster tail holder and cutter comprising a rigid base plate havinga support surface, an adapter bracket mounted on said base plate, limitstop means also mounted on said base plate and located for alignedcooperation with said bracket, a manually actuated and controllablecleaving blade having a distal end pivotally mounted on said adapterbracket and a proximal end provided with a handgrip, said handgripoverlying, extending beyond and being adapted to engage said limit stopmeans, said blade having a cutting edge which is prevented by the pivotpoint and limit stop means from coming into destructive contact withsaid support surface, said adapter bracket being adjustably mounted on aforward distal marginal edge of said base plate and having an upstandingabutment surface which assists in locating and maintaining a coactingend of the lobster tail within the confines of the cutting site, and, incombination, lobster tail positioning and guide means located betweensaid adapter bracket and limit stop means and having one end terminatingadjacent to said bracket.
 2. The lobster tail holder and cutter definedin and according to claim 1, and wherein said bracket is angular incross-section, is provided at its respective ends with webs, said webshaving a bolt passing through bolt holes provided therefor in said websand one end of said bolt serving to support and pivotally mount theadjacent distal end of said blade.
 3. The lobster tail holder and cutterdefined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said positioning andguide means is characterized by an elongated angle iron having ahorizontal flange adjustably mounted on said surfaCe and an upstandingvertical flange, said latter flange providing a buttressing andstabilizing guide.
 4. The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in andaccording to claim 1, and wherein said limit stop means comprises anupstanding compressibly resilient bumper adjustably and replaceablymounted atop said base plate, said bumper constituting a lobster taillocating abutment and assisting in positioning and retaining a coactingend of the lobster tail in a ready-to-cleave position.
 5. The lobstertail holder and cutter defined in claim 1, and wherein the distalpivoted end of said blade is accessibly and detachably mounted on oneend of said adapter bracket and is adjustably raisable and lowerablerelative to said support surface in conjunction with said bracket. 6.The lobster tail holder and cutter defined in and according to claim 1,and wherein said forward distal marginal edge is provided withlongitudinal anti-slipping ribs, and wherein a coacting surface of saidadapter bracket is also provided with longitudinal anti-slipping ribsoriented and clampingly engaging said first named anti-slipping ribs. 7.A portable lobster tail holder and cutter comprising a rigidnon-corrodible base plate having a horizontal planar lobster tailsupporting surface, a forward distal marginal edge and a rearwardproximal marginal edge, a horizontally elongated adapter bracketadjustably and removably mounted on a predetermined portion of saiddistal marginal edge, said bracket having an upstanding vertical surfacedisposed at right angles to and rising above the plane of saidsupporting surface, a vertically adjustable compressibly resilientbumper mounted atop said support surface, said bumper constituting ayieldable limit stop, being spaced from but aligned with one end of saidadapter bracket and being located adjacent a predetermined portion ofsaid proximal marginal edge, a single elongated upstanding rigid guidespanning the space between said adapter bracket and limit stop, saidguide being detachably and adjustably mounted atop said support surfaceand having a forward distal end terminating adjacent a median portion ofsaid vertical surface and a proximal end terminating short of andlaterally spaced and offset from the locale of said limit stop, and amanually actuatable and controllable cutting blade having a forwarddistal end detachably and pivotally mounted on said one end of saidbracket and a rearward proximal end provided with a handgrip overlyingand extending beyond and cooperatively adapted to engage said limitstop, said blade having a cutting edge which is prevented by theconjoint action of the pivotal point and limit stop from being forcedinto destructive contact with said supporting surface.